Tractor weights

ABSTRACT

A counterweight assembly is adopted to be secured to a tractor such that the counterweights will not jar against one another. Each weight is provided with an L-shaped aperture in which is extended a corresponding L-shaped member. A bolt extends through each end of the L-shaped member and through an eccentric washer into the mounting bracket. The washer at each end is rotated on its bolt against the adjacent weight, forcing the weights together.

O United States Patent 1 [11 1 3,730,545 Allori May 1, 1973 54] TRACTOR WEIGHTS 2,701,728 2/1955 Miller ..280/150 E Inventor: Aldo Anori, Brookfield L 3,635,493 1/1972 Barth et a1. ..280/15O E [73] Assignee: International Harvester Company, Primary ExaminerLe0 F riaglia g Ill. Assistant ExaminerDavid M. Mitchell g 30, Attorney-Floyd Harman pp 175,894 57 ABSTRACT A counterweight assembly is adopted to be secured to [52] US. Cl. ..280/l E a tractor Such that the counterweights n not jar [51] Int. Cl ..Br 27/00 against one anothen Each weight is provided with an [58] Fleld of Search ..280/ E; /685; L Shaped aperture in which is extended a correspond 248/228 226 R ing L-shaped member. A bolt extends through each end of the L-shaped member and through an eccentric [56] References cued washer into the mounting bracket. The washer at each UNITED STATES PATENTS end is rotated on its bolt against the adjacent weight,

forcing the weights together. 3,492,019 1/1970 Folkerts ..280/l50 E 3,490,878 1/1970 Latterman et a] ..280/150 E 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAY H915 3,730,545

INVENTOR ALDO ALLORI PATENTEDHAY "1.191s

SPEET 2 [IF 2 INVENTOR ALDO ALLOR/ TRACTOR WEIGHTS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a tractor counterweight assembly and more particularly to a means of securing the weights on a weight-mounting bracket or tractor bumper.

As is well known in the art, the various draft loads to which a tractor is subjected can be compensated for by the addition of counterweight systems on the front end of the tractor. The added front end weight is frequently utilized to increase traction on the rear wheels or to prevent the front wheels from lifting off the ground.

The counterweight systems have taken many different designs as well as forms. A common type of front end weight is known as the Suitcase Weight which is in the form of a generally rectangular iron casting having a lip or hook portion' which extends over and onto an appropriately designed mounting-bracket or tractor bumper. The weights are held in by gravity, however, provisions must be made to prevent accidents lifting or bumping off.

Various means are employed to prevent vertical movement of the weight, such as bolting the weight from the bottom to the mount or providing a plate which fits into the weights and is locked against the bottom of the mount. However, although these means prevent bumping off of the weights they are ineffective in snugging the weights up against each other. A certain amount of space remains between each weight such that when the tractor moves, the weights pivot, shift and bang against each other and the mount.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a front end counterweight assembly wherein all the clearance between the weights is taken up.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from a reading of the following specifications taken together with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, ofa tractor to which the present invention has been applied;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the counterweight assembly shown in schematic attachment to the front end ofa tractor;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top view of part of the assembled counterweight system;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in FIGS. 2 and 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the eccentric washer taken along line 55 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, it will be noted that the tractor vehicle which has been selected for illustrating the invention is designated generally by the reference character l0, and is of conventional design, including a longitudinally extending chassis 11, a steerable front wheel assembly 12, and a pair of spaced front and rear wheels 14 and 15. Other components and details, illustrated only to show their general relationship to the vehicle, have not been designated with unit reference numbers, inasmuch as such details are not essential to the inventive concept hereof and to do so might tend to make the drawings unnecessarily cornplexed. The frame 17 has suitable tapped holes for receiving a mounting member 19 comprising a unitary place for the most part 1 member generally rectangular member. The mounting member 19 is secured to the frame 17 by means of studs or bolts 21, 22, and 23 shown in FIG. 2. The mounting member therefore provides a rigidly secure surface for the support of a rectangular cross section weight mounting bracket 24.

The weight mounting bracket 24, preferably, is fashioned as a unitary structure that extends in front of the mounting member 19. The support bracket is suitably secured thereto by the same bolt means 21, 22 and 23 that fasten the mounting member to the frame, and functions as a transverse structural member for the support of the counterweight unit 26.

The counterweight 27 comprises a generally rectangular steel or metal member having a lip or hook 28 extending out from and down from corner 31. To add to the convenience in handling a cutout 29 is provided at the top of the weight to act as a grip or handle. Further, a slot 30 of about the same dimensions as the weight mounting bracket 24 extends upwardly from the bottom part 32 of the lip 28. The forward wall 33 diverges toward the opening 35 of the slot such that the opening is wider at the bottom and then decreases gradually toward the upper end 36 thereof.

As shown in FIG. 2, each weight is provided with an L-shaped aperture 37. Since all weights have a correspondingly located L-shaped aperture, there is provided a generally horizontal extending passageway from one side of the weight assembly to the other. The L-shaped aperture admits a correspondingly elongated shaft means, L-shaped or angle iron member 40 which is moved through the assembly such that an end extends out from the face of the last weight on each side, the shaft means 40 being in abutting relationship with a contacting portion 39 of the weight member 27. The L- shaped member terminates at each end with a transversely disposed opening 41 which admits the shank of a fastener. The fastener may be a bolt 43 having a head 44 which is passed through a horizontally transverse opening 45 in the weight mounting bracket and secured by a nut 46. The counterweight unit 26 is thus held on the weight mounting bracket by gravity and upon the fastening of the L-shaped member at each of its ends to the weight mounting member, is prevented from moving horizontally fore and aft.

As shown in FIG. 3, to further secure the weights and to prevent side movement a washer 47, which is eccentric to its bore and has a gripping means having two or more flats such as a hex head 48, is interposed on the bolt 43 between the back surface 42 of said L-shaped member and the front face 49 of said weight mounting bracket. The washer/hex head may be comprised of two individual members which have been welded or otherwise fixed together. It may also be cast or formed as a single unit from a suitable material.

As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, bolt 43 passes through the washer 47 in an off-centered manner. It is apparent therefore, that as the washer 47 is rotated by means of a wrench or other means affixed to the hex head 48 it will force the adjacent weight 27 in toward the center of the weight unit. Corresponding adjacent apertures 50, 51 can be provided in both the surface of the L-shaped 40 and in the weight mounting bracket 24, along their lengths thereof such that fewer weights can be positioned and secured in the same manner. These additional apertures accomplish a dual purpose in that each counterweight member can be provided with an aligned corresponding projection 53 which extends thereinto to provide additional restraining means. The projection 53 has, however, a diameter less than that of the corresponding aperture 50 to permit the weight to shift to oneside upon tightening of the cam.

As shown in FIG. 3, the thickness of washer 47 and hex head 48 taken together is less than the thickness at 52 of the contacting portion 39 of the weight member 26, that is, the distance between the front face 54 and the back face 56 of the weight member. Further, the bolt 43 is threaded over a sufficient distance of its length such that when-the unit is assembled and nut 58 is torqued tight, L-shaped member 40 is bent about a point adjacent the surface of the weight 26. Since the L-shaped member 40 resists the binding forces, its major plan is not parallel to those of the nut 58 and hex head 48, forming rather a diagonal therebetween. Thus, the nut 58 at 60 and the hex head 48 at 62 cut into the surface of the angle iron 40 in a locking engagement when nut 58 is torqued tight. A locking means of this nature is necessary to keep the unit tight fitted against the continuous vibrations and shocks to which it is subjected. As discussed before, the washer 47 and hex head 48 are simply journaled by the bolt 43,

the forces holding the washer in place being simply fric tional wedging. It should be understood that the positions of the washer and hex head can be interchanged, this being simply the preferred embodiment.

In actual practice the weights are positioned on the weight mounting bracket, the L-shaped member is then inserted through the corresponding apertures in the weights, and a bolt is inserted such that it passes through the end of the L-shaped member, through an eccentric washer, and through the mounting bracket. A nut is then assembled finger-tight. The eccentric washer is then rotated against the weight by use of the hex nut, until it is tight against the weight. The bolt and nut are then full torqued thus bending the L-shaped member and locking the components in place. The same procedure is then applied on the opposite side of the weight members until all the clearance is taken up between the weights and the total unit is firmly pressed together as well as to the weight supporting member.

While only one embodiment has been described, it is to be understood that variations can be made by one skilled in the art. The invention as shown and described, is not intended to be taken as limited by the embodiments disclosed, nor in fact, in any manner except as defined in the annexed claims.

What is new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

l. A tractor counterweight assembly for removably securing a plurality of weights, comprising:

a tractor mounted weight supporting means capable of accepting weights in side by side relation; a weight means carried on said weight supporting means;

an elongated shaft means engaging the weights for removably securing said weight means on said support means from movement both in a vertical plane and horizontally fore and aft;

and eccentric cam means pivotally mounted on said counterweight assembly abutting the weights for securing the welghts from movement laterally of said tractor on the support means.

2. The counterweight assembly according to claim 1 wherein said cam means is mounted on and locked by said elongated shaft means.

3. The counterweight assembly according to claim 2 wherein said cam is a washer and has a gripping means having two or more flats fixed thereto and said elongated shaft means is an angle iron.

4. A tractor counterweight assembly mounted removably on a weight mounting means comprising: weight members in side by side relation having a generally rectangular shaped body, an L-shaped aperture through the body thereof and a lip portion engaging said weight mounting means, an angle iron member suitable for slidingly extending through said L-shaped aperture and being secured to the weight mounting means; and an eccentric washer, said washer being mounted pivotally, adjacent the outermost weight members on said angle iron member means for snugly securing said weight members.

5. A 'tractor counterweight assembly mounted removably on a weight mounting means comprising: weight members having a generally rectangular shaped body, an L-shaped aperture through the body thereof and a lip portion engaging said weight mounting means, an elongated angle iron member having a first and second end, an eccentric washer having a gripping means having two or more flats affixed thereto said washer being positioned adjacent the ends of said elongated angle iron; and a bolt means securing said angle iron, and pivotally carrying said washer, to said weight mounting means.

6. A counterweight assembly according to claim 6 wherein the thickness of said washer and said gripping means together is less than the distance between said weight mounting means and said elongated angle iron member, said washer and gripping means being mounted on said bolt between said weight mounting means and said angle iron.

7. A counterweight assembly according to claim 6 wherein; said bolt means includes a bolt and nut, said bolt journaling said weight supporting means, said washer said gripping means, said elongated angle iron and being secured with said nut in a locking manner. 

1. A tractor counterweight assembly for removably securing a plurality of weights, comprising: a tractor mounted weight supporting means capable of accepting weights in side by side relation; a weight means carried on said weight supporting means; an elongated shaft means engaging the weights for removably securing said weight means on said support means from movement both in a vertical plane and horizontally fore and aft; and eccentric cam means pivotally mounted on said counterweight assembly abutting the weights for securing the weights from movement laterally of said tractor on the support means.
 2. The counterweight assembly according to claim 1 wherein said cam means is mounted on and locked by said elongated shaft means.
 3. The counterweight assembly according to claim 2 wherein said cam is a washer and has a gripping means having two or more flats fixed thereto and said elongated shaft means is an angle iron.
 4. A tractor counterweight assembly mounted removably on a weight mounting means comprising: weight members in side by side relation having a generally rectangular shaped body, an L-shaped aperture through the body thereof and a lip portion engaging said weight mounting means, an angle iron member suitable for slidingly extending through said L-shaped aperture and being secured to the weight mounting means; and an eccentric washer, said washer being mounted pivotally, adjacent the outermost weight members on said angle iron member means for snugly securing said weight members.
 5. A tractor counterweight assembly mounted removably on a weight mounting means comprising: weight members having a generally rectangular shaped body, an L-shaped aperture through the body thereof and a lip portion engaging said weight mounting means, an elongated angle iron member having a first and second end, an eccentric washer having a gripping means having two or more flats affixed thereto said washer being positioned adjacent the ends of said elongated angle iron; and a bolt means securing said angle iron, and pivotally carrying said washer, to said weight mounting means.
 6. A counterweight assembly according to claim 6 wherein the thickness of said washer and said gripping means together is less than the distance between said weight mounting means and said elongated angle iron member, said washer and gripping means being mounted on said bolt between said weight mounting means and said angle iron.
 7. A counterweight assembly according to claim 6 wherein; said bolt means includes a bolt and nut, said bolt journaling said weight supporting means, said washer said gripping means, said elongated angle iron and being secured with said nut in a locking manner. 